Description

Al Abrams was Motown's iconic Director Of Publicity, his book Hype & Sou! – Behind The Scenes At Motown tells it like it was. The stories are so vivid and raw you can almost taste the cordite. It's about a small record label becoming the ultimate hit factory. It's about a black company coming of age to the background turmoil of The Civil Rights Movement. It's about the genius of Gordy and the impossibly talented team he surrounded himself with. It's about the birth of Soul Music.

Al writes just as wonderfully now as when he was dubbed "The Fourth Supreme" as the No. 1 hits kept on rolling, and lifts the lid on what really went on at 2648 W.Grand Boulevard. Despite being young and headline seeking pushy, he slowed down enough to keep every memo he sent, collect (now historical) label documents, retain his press releases and newspaper clippings, and amass a jaw dropping collection of photographs, many never seen before. Sorting through this archive took so long the proposed delivery date for the book kept being pushed back. The delays were worthwhile! A series of evocative essays are surrounded with a dazzling selection of graphic images.